Hold Tight to the Goal. Let Go of the Plan.
I’ve always been goal-oriented. But over time, I’ve realized that I often chase the wrong kind of goals.
I’ve never lacked direction — I usually know where I want to go. It’s the how that trips me up.
When I wanted to get fit, I trained for a marathon.
When I wanted to share insights from my doctoral work, I started a business.
Those weren’t bad ideas. But neither actually brought me closer to what I really wanted.
I ran for hours every week, but the stubborn weight around my waist didn’t budge.
I launched a business, but most people wanted quick fixes — not the deeper learning and transformation I was passionate about.
I thought I was choosing the right methods to reach my goals. But they didn’t work.
Instead of adjusting, I doubled down — something many of us do when we’ve already invested time and energy.
Eventually, I stopped clinging to the method and focused on the outcome.
I reached my fitness goals — not by running longer or harder, but by lifting weights and tracking macros.
I remembered why I did my doctorate in the first place: to help students thrive. So, I returned to the classroom, bringing with me everything I’d learned. The outcome was the same — but the path looked very different.
Here’s what I learned: End goals should be non-negotiable. But the methods we use to get there should be flexible.
We often mistake the path for the destination. We set goals like “run a marathon” or “launch a business,” when what we really want is to feel strong, make an impact, or live a meaningful life.
As a challenge for the week, take a moment to step back and reconnect with your true end goals. Is it stability? Health? Joy? Purpose?
Then ask yourself — is the path you’re on actually moving you closer? And if not… what would it take to try a different one?
Best wishes,
Lauren
P.S. If you're working toward a big goal in your life or organization — and the path forward feels unclear — we help individuals, leaders and teams get aligned, simplify the plan, and move with purpose.